Throughout Summer

WHEN YOU WERE 12 YEARS OLD twiddling your thumbs on a picture-perfect summer day, what was your favorite way to spark some fun? Most likely, it was to gather some friends and head to an amusement park, water park or carnival to play games, take a dip and enjoy all the fruits of summer. Sure, you may not be in middle school anymore, but there’s no shame in recreating that nostalgia and going down a waterslide (headfirst, when the safety attendant’s looking away, of course) to conjure those sweaty days of yore. Here are New Hampshire’s best and brightest amusement attractions to live like a kid all summer long.

Canobie Lake Park

85 North Policy St., Salem (603) 893-3506; canobie.com

Whale’s Tale Waterpark

481 Daniel Webster Highway (Rt. 3), Lincoln (603) 745-8810; whalestalewaterpark.net

Candia Springs Adventure Park 446 Raymond Rd., Candia (603) 587-2093; candiasprings.com

← Water Country 2300 Lafayette Rd., Portsmouth (603) 427-1112; watercountry.com

Story Land 850 Route 16, Glen (603) 383-4186; storylandnh.com

Red Jacket Mountain View Indoor Waterpark 2251 White Mountain Hwy. Route 16, North Conway. (603) 356-5411; redjacketresorts.com

Santa’s Village

528 Presidential Hwy., Jefferson (603) 586-4445; santasvillage.com

Clark’s Bears ↓ 110 Daniel Webster Hwy., Lincoln (603) 745-8913; clarksbears.com

FEATURED EVENT

THROUGHOUT SUMMER

40 Years of Water Country > Celebrate four decades of summer fun at Portsmouth’s Water Country. For 2023, guests can expect an all-new redesigned main gate entrance, a brand-new Water Country sign and refreshed parking booths. In addition, there will be new way-finding signage, transformed restrooms near the park’s main entrance and a photo-opportunity area by Adventure River. Plus, new eye-catching colors are being painted on Dragon’s Den, Plunge, Racing Rapids and Hyperlight. Prices and times vary, Water Country, 2300 Lafayette Rd., Portsmouth. (603) 427-1112; watercountry.com